“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle; you find the pieces and put the puzzle together.”
Former NASL head coach Eddie Firmani spoke those words in talking about building a top team, but much the same philosophy applies in lining up coaches for Major League Soccer.
As anticipated, a variety of pieces are being tested for fit. These are likely to make up the MLS picture: Some famous NASL names, a few college icons and other American products, and a foreign surprise or two.
The list of possibles has been boiled down to perhaps 18. The league office circulated approximately 60 resumes it had received from prospective candidates, and several teams have approached other coaches directly.
Many coaches have been contacted and interviewed by more than one team, and further scrambling the pieces is the league office’s role in hiring at least two and possibly three head coaches for league-run teams. Tampa and San Jose will be run by MLS, as will Dallas if a prospective investor group decides not to come forth.
Most avidly pursued of the college coaches is Bruce Arena, winner of four straight Division I championships at Virginia. He is the leading candidate for both the New York/New Jersey and Washington franchises.
Arena is discussing with the Washington franchise such topics as use of the old Redskin Park as a training facility and headquarters. The two parties were far apart on salary several weeks ago, but talks appear to be slowly bringing them together.
He is reportedly asking for an annual salary of $200,000 and a three-year guarantee.
Former NASL head coach Eddie Firmani believes he is close to reaching an agreement with the New York/New Jersey team. Firmani, a South African by birth who played three times for Italy by virtue of his Italian parentage, coached four NASL teams from 1974 to 1984.
“I think I’m the No. 1 candidate,” says Firmani, who began negotiating with New York/New Jersey general manager Charlie Stillitano in mid-August. “I’ve been contacted by some of the other teams.
“This is a great opportunity for all the soccer people to get together. If people want soccer, this is the time to support it. People demonstrated during the World Cup they will support soccer if it can be done in the right manner.”
Stillitano said he has narrowed down his list to “at least four, including two American coaches and two foreign coaches.” He expects to name his coach in mid-October.
Firmani won the NASL title with Tampa Bay in 1975, and took two more championships with the Cosmos in 1977 and 1978. Firmani also coached the Cosmos during the final NASL season in 1984, and he believes the time is right for American pro soccer to make a comeback.
“I just feel the people behind the 10 [MLS] teams are very big, very successful business people,” he says. “Things will be run properly, and that’s the big difference between MLS and the NASL.”
One other NASL coaching name being bandied about is Ron Newman, who left San Diego of the CISL last year for the Arizona Sandsharks. Newman once played for and coached the Dallas Tornado franchise owned by Lamar Hunt, and is a candidate for the Hunt-operated team in Kansas City.
Charles ponders Boston offer
For nearly a decade, Clive Charles toiled quietly in the Northwest, building the men’s and women’s programs at the University of Portland. Except for a short stint as coach of the national women’s under-20 team, his coaching success and experience as a defender in the English League and NASL earned scant recognition outside West Coast soccer.
Then came the 1994 World Cup, and his solid work as a color commentator for ESPN. Last spring, U.S. Soccer hired Steve Sampson — formerly the coach at Santa Clara — as interim national team head coach, and he chose Charles as his assistant.
He proved to be a popular choice with national team players, as much for his soccer knowledge as his enthusiastic, if somewhat inconsistent, golf game and affection for friendly wagers.
“If I continue as Steve’s assistant,” he says, “maybe the players won’t get bonuses, but they’ll get to play golf with me once a week.”
More than one MLS club has pursued Charles, who acknowledged lengthy discussions with New England but would confirm no others. Like Arena, he’s established his programs as well as a lucrative camp business.
Unlike Arena, though, he hasn’t won four championships, and has also been asked by Sampson to continue as national team assistant, which would be difficult at Portland, but all but impossible if he takes an MLS job.
“I’m very happy doing what I’m doing,” says Charles. “I love it up here.
“I’d have to take a look at the whole situation: The organization, the playing and training facilities, the ownership. Obviously the length of contract and the money are important, too.
“I’ve been coaching two [college] teams for a long time. If I go to MLS, I’m not sure what I’d do the rest of the day.”
Dallas names general manager
Major League Soccer dipped into the ranks of American football for its general manager in Dallas, and came up with a man who has experience swimming against the current, which will be a valuable commodity in Big “D.”
Billy Hicks, a front-office employee with the Dallas Cowboys from 1986 to 1989, sold the helmeted version for several years in England during his tenure with the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. Hicks, 34, served as Monarchs’ GM when they won the WLAF title in 1991.
Now, Hicks has taken the job of selling soccer in a Cowboy-crazed land where even high school football spring scrimmages draw big crowds.
The hiring of Hicks leaves New England as the only MLS franchise without a general manager.
by Soccer America Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney